'My heart goes out to my police colleagues in New Brunswick'

Moncton police shootings rock police community

Published on June 5, 2014

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Former Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Edgar MacLeod, left, a close friend and colleague of Chief Myles Burke, showed emotion as the hearse carrying Burke passed by — marking the end of the funeral procession in front of Our Lady of Fatima church in Sydney River on Thursday.Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A former Cape Breton police chief said Wednesday's fatal shooting of three police officers in Moncton underscores the fine line officers walk everyday in fulfilling their mandate to serve and protect.

"Officer safety and safety of citizens is a daily part of what we do," said former Cape Breton Regional Police chief Edgar MacLeod, who is now executive director of the Atlantic Police Academy in Prince Edward Island.

"My heart goes out to my police colleagues in New Brunswick."

MacLeod said safety training is provided to both cadets and seasoned officers from across the region on a regular basis in order to update officers with the latest techniques and approaches to situations.

"What has happened in Moncton is always a hot topic during training sessions," he said.

The New Brunswick city was in lockdown Thursday as RCMP officers scoured a north end neighbourhood in search of Justin Bourque, 24, who is alleged to have fatally shot three officers and injured two more.

MacLeod said while officers are taught how to use appropriate force while balancing safety, the officers in this case may not have had any chance to protect themselves.